5 Daily Habits You Should Stop For Glowing Skin

What are some of your goals for 2018? Are you hoping to lose 3 inches off your waist or fit into that size 1 blouse that you wore only once? Are you hoping to spend more time with your family? Or perhaps you hope to pick up some cooking lessons to cook for your boyfriend?

We like making new year’s resolution to make us better people and improve our lives in the coming year. Now, how about adding just 5 more things to your list so that you will have younger looking skin. We are here to divulge some skin tips to help you achieve the best skin ever by having a brighter, glowing skin and get a more even skin tone!

If you want to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, achieve a brighter skin tone, reduce clogged pores and get a firmer, more elastic skin, we recommend you kick these habits, pronto!

1. Eat Less Sugar

It’s a real bummer if you have a sweet tooth. Sugar causes protein fibers in the body to become stiff and impaired. The unfortunate news is that the protein fibers that will be affected are mainly collagen and elastin. These proteins are the building blocks for youthful appearances. Sugar targets these protein fibers and make them weak and less supple.

In the long run, effects of consuming too much sugar will become apparent in the form of premature aging, early onset of loss of elasticity and radiance of the skin. Wrinkles will also form due to the impaired protein fibers in your body. Not forgetting that having too much sugar will make you fat! For the glowing skin you always wanted, think twice the next time you reach out for a cold can of soft drink!

2. Not Drinking Enough (Water)

Drinking water is boring – No one is going to refute this. We all have a love-hate relationship with water. We know that it is good for us and yet we find all sorts of reasons not to keep ourselves hydrated. Giving you a quick refresher on biology: Water is essential for the proper circulation of nutrients in the body. Water also aids in dissolving minerals and nutrients so that different parts of the body receives them. It is also required for transporting waste products out of your body.

If you need one more reason to drink 8 glasses of water a day, here’s one more: Water helps you keep your skin’s youthful appearance because it keeps your skin plump and hydrated. Regular hydration improves the colour and texture of the skin because water is the main component for building new, healthy cells. For healthy, glowing skin, make sure you down 8 glasses of water a day!

3. Throw Out Your Beauty Products That Contain Alcohol

If you see SD alcohol, denatured alcohol, isopropyl alcohol as one of the top five ingredients in your skincare product, you should get rid of them instantly. There has been some debate whether alcohol in your skincare product is good or bad for you. Extensive research has been done on this and it is very clear that alcohol as the main ingredient in any skincare product is potentially doing more harm than good to your skin.

Research has shown that alcohol will cause your skin to become dry. It is also harsh enough to erode the top layer of the skin, exposing the deeper layers of the skin to the severe weather conditions. By removing excess oil on the face, it also removes the protective layer of the skin and cause the skin to dry more easily. Over time, wrinkles and fine lines will form from the lack of moisture on the skin. Chances of you getting an acne breakout is also higher because your body will react to the dry skin by secreting more oil!

Alcohol is usually added to the products to give a quick-drying finish, makes you feel cleaner by instantly removing the layer of oil on your face, and it feels like the products are instantly absorbed into the skin. It may make you think the product is weightless on the skin and provide a clean finish, but the long term effects of alcohol on your skin outweighs the benefit of such instant gratification.

4. Over-cleansing

Washing your face regularly does not give you glowing skin. In fact, it drys out your skin very quickly. It is very tempting to wash your face regularly especially in such hot and humid weather in Singapore. Anyway, who doesn’t like the squeaky clean feeling after washing your face? But here’s the thing – Over-washing your face can strip away the natural oils in your skin, leaving your face susceptible to bacteria and dirt from the environment.

Your skin is a protective barrier that separates you from the harsh environment. It also helps retain nutrients and moisture in your face. Over-washing your face breaks down the useful barrier and you may suffer from rashes, adult acne, and seborrheic dermatitis. If you are suffering from these medical problems, it’s high time you stop washing your face so many times a day.

“Less is more. Choose a gentle cleanser. The best type would be oil-free and fragrance-free.” said Dr Siew Tuck Wah, Medical Director of Radium Medical Aesthetics. “Many of my patients develop skin problems because of over-washing. I have developed an in-house mild cleanser for my clients and they have seen good result so far. They don’t see so much excess oil on the face and their skin problems have also improved.”, Dr. Siew continued.

“Cleanse your face at most twice a day. Apply a non-greasy moisturiser after patting your face dry with a towel. Go for a facial treatment once every two to three weeks to deep cleanse and exfoliate your skin.”, Dr. Siew added.

5. Picking At Your Skin

People pick at their skin for several reasons. It could be due to stress, rashes, acne, and insect bites. “When you scratch at your skin that is already inflamed, it will further irritate your skin. “Most of the time, your body will heal itself. If you don’t give your skin time to heal completely and start picking at it again, it will often result in scarring.”, Dr Siew advised.

“When scarring occurs, your self-esteem takes a hit. It will also take a long time and cost more to resolve the scarring problem.”, Dr Siew said.

So what options do people have? “Apply some soothing lotion on the affected area and let it heal. See a doctor if it doesn’t resolve in a few days.”, Dr Siew explained.